About Hekshanians

Biology & Diet
The modern Hekshanian is a biped mammal of humanoid physique, though slightly smaller than
most Human gene-types. They are easily identified by the thin layer of coarse fur covering
their bodies, long tails used for balance, tridactyl clawed feet and large, tapering ears.
The ancestor of Hekshanians was a primitive repto-mammalian species dwelling on the plains
of Hekshano in family-oriented groups, lead by dominant females. Before developing to warm
blood, Hekshanians regulated body heat through a large fin on their tails. This fin
remains visible on the modern Hekshanian, though it is quite small and now vestigial.

Omnivores, Hekshanians are survivors and developed a human-like metabolism for the purpose
of ranging long distances in search of food. Their feet are notably tough and calloused,
each toe covered in an large, pointed keratin deposit with a vestigial sparring claw at the
back of the heel. The toe coverings are so thick that they are considered to be as tough
as bone, and thusly Hekshanians rarely wear foot protection.

Northern Hekshanians have lighter, thicker fur and coarse hair on their heads, while
mainlanders have darker fur hues and softer hair on their heads. Markings common to
Hekshanians include brindles, spots, banding and stripes.

The species seems more prone to PTSD than most other hominids, and due to their low
technology level, have developed a predisposition towards self medication and substance
abuse. They are generally regarded as having intelligence on-level with moderate to low
Human intelligence, with a few exceptions.

Sexual Dimorphism & Reproduction
Although superficially the Hekshanians appear to have two sexes, anthropologists have
determined the species appears to have three separate biological sexual categories: One
internally similar to a typical mammalian female, and two typical to mammalian males. It
is believed this has resulted from their social structures pre-sentience, where family
units were primarily under the direction of a lead female, with long-range and homebound
male types in distinct supporting roles. Like most mammals, Hekshanian reproductive and
mammary organs do not have hair covering them.

Female Hekshanians have similar secondary sex characteristics to Humans - broader hips,
visible breasts regardless of estress cycle and a slightly more diminutive size. The
females are quite muscular, though most of this muscle is tightly compacted and obviously
visible. Females Hekshanians tend to have the most dominant personality types amount their
species and are the quickest thinkers - as well as possessing the most volatile tempers.

The smaller of the two male types is quite similar to the female, though generally more
passive and subservient. They typically have feminine facial builds and are decent
critical thinkers, though do not posses much muscle mass. It is theorized that they acted
as surrogate females in pre-sentient Hekshanian homes, and in modern times will often be
found alongside women in traditionally female Hekshanian occupations.

The larger of the two male types is the most submissive, taking orders from both females
and other males. In spite of this, they have the largest physical build of the species and
the most visibly obvious muscle. Their temperaments are typically mild, and it is thought
that their biological purpose was to act in defense of the family unit.

Hekshanian copulation is similar to that of Humans, and typically between two partners.
Female Hekshanians impregnated by males carry a fetus for approximately eight Earth months,
giving birth to a single infant which they will nurse for an additional month. Hekshanian
children are significantly smaller than Human children, and though they develop at a
similar cognitive rate, they do not grow at a comparable physical rate until age six.
Hekshanian children are usually raised by at least one or more family members, though
there is no obvious developmental difference in those raised by males as compared to those
raised by females.

Language & Culture
It would be unfair to discuss Hekshanian culture without acknowledging that it has
undergone a severe and drastic alteration in the last five years.

Linguistically, however, little has changed. Hekshanian language varies from continent to
continent, and each continent has several nations - most governed by female figureheads.
Each variation to Hekshanian language, however, carries similar sound and grammatical
structures, indicating some - if not all- developed in similar regions.

The most common Hekshanian language is primarily used in port cities, and is thought to
originate in North Tek. It is this language most traders or visitors learn, though some
struggle with pronunciation.

Hekshanian nicknames seem unique to their language, and can be easily understood by
foreigners. A Hekshanian nickname is merely the first part of an individual's last name
combined with the last part of their first name. These nicknames are meant to be used in
affectionate, familial manners, though, and it would be inappropriate to use nicknames
with near complete strangers.

Prior to the Rulerist massacres, Hekshanians had developed most of the common forms of art
and story telling found in sentient cultures. Music, written word and visual art were
still considered primitive for the species' development, but were none the less unique.

After the massacres, little support for these art forms was able to survive the collapse
of major cities and nations of industry. This lead to the rise of street art and, as a
spectator sport, mine racing: a deadly event where pilots attempt to navigate a low-orbit
mine field put in place over port cities. Due to the physical and mental strain of mine
racing, the drug culture also exploded post-massacre.

Modern Hekshanian slang has split their drug culture down the middle. There are stims -
stimulants and their users - and dims -depressants and their users. Stims are commonly
found in use among the mine racing crowd, used to give an edge to reaction time and
improve on flying capabilities. Both are dangerous, however, with numerous long-term side
effects and dependency hazards. Stim and Dim overdoses are both common causes for
emergency room admission at Hekshanian hospitals.

Another hazard from the Hekshanian drug culture is the mixing of stims and dims. This
combination is often fatal, causing failure of either the liver or the heart in a short
period of time. Because of this, stim users and dim users do not often share social
circles - unless they are particularly reckless, or generally self destructive.

Society is generally considered to have collapsed after the events of the massacres, as
both culture and economy took violent downturns and infrastructure crumbled. Though there
have been efforts by outside alien forces to stabilize Hekshano, most of these attempts
are perceived as unwanted intrusions by the natives.

Religion & Rulerism
Hekshanians have two major native religions: Kerish and Munin. Both of these come in a
variety of sub-sects and levels of orthodoxy, though those devoted to Munin tend to be
more orthodox than the followers of Kerish.

Kerish is one of the oldest religions on Hekshano, and is considered to have been
developed from folk legends over hundreds of years. It focuses heavily on the importance
and influence of nature, self-sacrifice through solitude and the importance of travel and
journey in one's life. There are few major ceremonies, but most are commonly related to
events of nature such as the harvest, the first rain or the lunar calendar.

Munin, as a counterpart, is a more structured religion which appears to have made its rise
during the settling of three major Hekshanian nations. Munin focuses largely on the
importance of family and fairness to one another, as well as health and safety. Munin is
monotheistic, and devotees are encouraged to pray at several points throughout the day.
Munin holidays are generally synonymous with government holidays, celebrating major events
in the prophet Munin's life throughout the year.

Rulerism was, as it usually is, an imported religion - brought through interplanetary
trade and communication, and a message of good will. It did not seem particularly dominant
or dangerous, at first, and Rulerist groups funded the development of several scientific
ventures on Hekshano in an effort to encourage the Hekshanians towards the stars
themselves. Most Rulerist converts on Hekshano were originally Munin.

It was not until late fall, some seven years after Rulerism had become established on
Hekshano, that events transpired which would lead to a societal collapse beginning with
the city of North Tek.

It is unknown what the Rulerist task force (combined with local law enforcement) was
seeking, but it is known that some data had possibly been leaked from the then Rulerist-
funded Naitec laboratory. The lab was abruptly shut down (Rulerists later denying ever
providing Naitec with funds) and the Rulerists entered North Tek with a display of
military force. Families were restricted to their homes until orders were received to
dispose of those who might have had any access to the missing information within Naitec.
No one knows if it was simply a mistranslation, a poorly relayed order, or if someone had
taken the most violent interpretation of those words possible, but as most of the city of
North Tek worked for Naitec in some capacity, over 60% of the adult population was
murdered that night.

This had a domino effect on Hekshanian culture. Immediately, nations began to shut their
borders and view any Rulerist-aligned alien species with suspicion. Trade became taxing
and complex, and economies began to suffer. Enormous numbers of Hekshanians simply began
to leave the planet, searching for somewhere safer to resume their lives. This created a
vacuum in leadership and the job force which the still young survivors were not yet
prepared to fill.

Attempting to apologize for the events they had been responsible for, Rulerists were quick
to step up efforts to stabilize Hekshano. Large numbers of aliens were brought in to take
up the positions which were now open, and jobs once held by Hekshanians were now held
primarily by Humans and Andoians. The resentment was palpable, and the cultural void
between these species obvious. Human psychiatrists were ill suited towards treating
Hekshanian patients from alien cultures. The mass exodus continued.

In an effort to stem the exodus, low-orbit space mines were placed in synchronous orbit
with the planet's primary space ports. These mines could be de-activated with proper
authorization, which curbed the number of emigrants from Hekshano - but greatly increased
the general sense of mistrust and resentment towards Rulerists on the surface below.

Realizing that the only real solution would be to return Hekshanians to their jobs and
remove the interlopers, Rulerists then began efforts to locate and return errant
Hekshanians to their homeworld. Unfortunately, in the process, several offworld-raised
Hekshanians found themselves dropped onto a planet with decaying infrastructure and no
knowledge of the local culture.

Eventually, the Rulerists appeared to simply give up. Survivors were given living stipends
as a way of making amends, and the Rulerists were left simply hoping that one day the
youth of Hekshano would grow to forgive them for their mistakes and resume ownership of
their own planet.

The few Hekshanians who remain devoted to Rulerism have been labeled by the church of the Ruler as cult-oriented, twisting the doctrine to justify the actions of the Rulerist task force and its mission in North Tek.

Hekshano's experience with Rulerism is considered to be one of the worst, and no other
planet to date has experienced such a uniquely awful culture clash with the alien
religion.

Technology & Alien Cultures
Hekshano is considered to be quite immature by the yardstick of alien contact, having only
been reached by alien visitors approximately 200 years ago. This means that most
xenobiologists are still struggling to understand most of the species' unique traits and
behavioral qualities, and misunderstandings are perhaps more common now than ever.

Because of the laws regarding the sharing of technology with undeveloped aliens,
Hekshanians themselves have not yet developed interstellar travel. The closest they have
achieved is orbital flight, and for the time being, this technology is only being put to
use in the nearly suicidal sport of mine racing. Were they to be compared to the
technology of Earth, Hekshano would fall somewhere on the level of the 1970s.

Aliens seeking to study Hekshano without being forced to conform to its low-tech lifestyle
have colonized Hekshano's moon. Though inhospitable in its natural state, the moon now
boasts a highly advanced self contained colony. It is to this colony that Hekshanians
seeking to fly through the minefields and escape flee, waiting there until they can obtain
more substantial transport to other worlds.

Hekshanians are fond of alien works of art and fiction, and especially fond of movies -
which they themselves do not create. As forms of entertainment, these are freely traded.

The Hekshanians have a solid alliance with their nearest galactic neighbor - the Rakwulvs.
Many Rakwulvs seeking a less modern lifestyle have immigrated to Hekshano, and inter-
species relationships are common. Hekshanians also seem to get along well with the hi-tech
Chuians, though they often do not understand what the Chuians are saying to them. Prior to
the massacre, their relationship with both Humans and Andoians were also positive - both
species seemed similar, and friendships often sprung up between them. This is, quite
obviously, no longer the case.

Most aliens aware of the Hekshanians' story view them with a mixture of pity and
avoidance, not knowing what to say or how to treat them, but fearing that association
might cause other species to treat them differently. Though it is common for aliens to
agree that the Hekshanian tendency towards self medication is unhealthy, it is equally
typical that they are unable to come up with a better method for coping with the events
the planet experienced - especially when so few experienced doctors exist to treat the
natives.

09/2014

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